News

May 01, 2026

Lord Justice Snowden appointed to Supreme Court

Lord Justice Snowden has this week been appointed as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

May 01, 2026

Welfare deputyship case ‘leapfrogged’ to Court of Appeal

An appeal considering the question of whether and when personal welfare deputies should be appointed for adults who are unable to make relevant decisions for themselves has been “leapfrogged” directly to the Court of Appeal.

May 01, 2026

Court of Protection judge outlines guidance on instruction of experts

Vice President of the Court of Protection, Mrs Justice Theis, has issued a reminder of the framework in which experts are instructed in the Court of Protection, and how such instructions should be managed, in a case relating to a man’s capacity.

May 01, 2026

Trading Standards body urges stronger enforcement powers to tackle organised crime on high streets

The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has called for strengthened closure order powers and an end to local authorities funding their own trading standards prosecutions in a report on organised crime groups operating on UK high streets.

May 01, 2026

Local government groups renew calls for legislation on remote council meetings

A group of local government organisations, including Lawyers in Local Government, has renewed a call for the Government to prioritise legislation to enable remote council meetings.

May 01, 2026

Ministers herald arrival of Renters’ Rights Act

A series of protections for millions of renters is now in action across England, including a long-anticipated ban on Section 21 evictions for private renters, giving tenants a raft of new rights and increased security.

Apr 30, 2026

Housing Committee urges acceleration of Long-term Housing Strategy to improve social housing conditions

The Chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government (HCLG) Committee has called for the Government to accelerate the implementation of its Long-term Housing Strategy after the previously published Social Housing Report highlighted a series of areas in which improvements were necessary.

Apr 30, 2026

More than 1,200 PSPOs currently in place across England and Wales, report finds

A campaign group has revealed the scale and range of Public Spaces Protection Orders (PSPOs) in force across England and Wales, finding that councils have introduced more than 1,200 such orders covering a wide variety of restrictions.

Apr 30, 2026

New LLG president pledges support for MOs amid local government reorganisation

Helen Bradley has been appointed president of Lawyers in Local Government (LLG) following the end of Paul Turner’s term in the role.

Apr 30, 2026

High Court to hear legal challenge to council tax reduction scheme brought by disabled Somerset resident

The High Court is next week to hear a resident’s challenge to the lawfulness of Somerset Council’s council tax reduction scheme.

Apr 30, 2026

County Council leader vows judicial review over reorganisation plans if re-elected

The leader of Hampshire County Council has said he will seek a judicial review over the Government’s local government reorganisation plans for the county if he is re-elected, after claiming the proposals split communities and have ignored survey responses.

Apr 30, 2026

Judge refuses permission for legal challenge to decision by inspector to reject planning application by faith school

An inspector was right to reject a planning application for an orthodox Jewish school on grounds of intolerable noise nuisance to neighbours, and also to refrain from considering the London Borough of Hackney’s record in providing school places.

Apr 30, 2026

Law centre hails reversal of decision to grant non-material amendment to planning permission for football stadium

The Public Interest Law Centre (PILC) has said that it acted successfully for an unnamed resident who wanted to reverse a decision of London Borough of Southwark to grant a ‘non-material amendment’ to planning permission for Dulwich Hamlet’s football stadium.

Apr 29, 2026

Office for Students unlawfully predetermined decision that university was in breach of registration conditions, High Court rules

The High Court has concluded that the Office for Students (OfS) erred in law when it made a decision that the University of Sussex was in breach of two registration conditions.

Apr 29, 2026

Attorney General's Office relaunches Public Legal Education Committee

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is to relaunch the Public Legal Education (PLE) Committee “to raise the profile of public legal education and support more strategic, coordinated delivery across the sector”.

Apr 29, 2026

High Court considers application by foster parents for injunction pursuant to Human Rights Act to prevent council from removing children from their care

The High Court has found it unnecessary to grant an injunction pursuant to the Human Rights Act 1998 preventing a local authority from removing two children from their long-term foster placement, observing a “strong public interest in not restraining public bodies from exercising the powers granted…

Apr 29, 2026

Council progresses proposals to introduce Public Spaces Protection Order banning pony and trap racing on two A-roads

A ban to address a long-running issue of “persistent, unregulated” pony-and-trap racing on roads in Buckinghamshire is being considered by the local authority.

Apr 29, 2026

Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman unveils new five-year strategy, plans for name change

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has launched its new five-year strategy and announced plans to rename itself as the ‘Public Service Ombudsman’.

Apr 28, 2026

Southwark must disclose SEND safety valve documents despite section 36 exemptions being engaged, tribunal rules

The London Borough of Southwark has been ordered to disclose its Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) management plan and safety valve monitoring report to Southwark Law Centre, after the First-tier Tribunal found that the public interest in transparency around SEND funding outweighed the council's…

Apr 28, 2026

Procurement group terminates procurement of £28m framework for development legal services

Places for People (PfP) Group has terminated the procurement of a framework for development legal services estimated to be worth up to £28m, amid concerns at the procedure followed.

Apr 28, 2026

Government confirms further reforms to Right to Buy including significant increase to minimum eligibility

The Government is to press ahead with plans to increase the minimum eligibility period from three to ten years before tenants can apply to buy their home under the Right to Buy.

Apr 28, 2026

Housing management lawyers promoted to partner at Capsticks in 2026 round

Two housing management specialists have been promoted to partner at Capsticks as part of the law firm's 2026 promotions round.

Apr 28, 2026

Former senior housing officer given suspended sentence over fraud

A former council employee has been given a 16-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to 13 counts of housing‑related fraud, committed over the course of his employment.

Apr 28, 2026

Tees Valley Combined Authority best value notice to stay in place

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) has said the best value notice issued for Tees Valley Combined Authority is to remain in place.

Apr 28, 2026

Court of Appeal hears appeal by London borough over injuries sustained on public footpath at Whitechapel Market

The Court of Appeal is this week (28-29 April) hearing an appeal by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets over a ruling that it was liable for injuries sustained by the claimant after they tripped on scaffolding poles left on a public footpath at Whitechapel Market.

Apr 28, 2026

Hillsborough Law to progress in next parliamentary session as ministers urged to “end delays” and “deliver law in full”

The Government has agreed to carry the so-called Hillsborough Law over to the next parliamentary session, as ministers are urged to “deliver the law in full”.

Apr 28, 2026

Traffic movements at junction to be reinstated after air quality improvements see pollution drop below legal limits

South Gloucestershire Council is set to reinstate “normal traffic movements” at Hambrook Junction, following confirmation from the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit that air quality at the site has met national standards for two years running.

Apr 27, 2026

First High Court hearing for “biggest ever” river pollution claim

More than 4,500 claimants have joined a High Court action against poultry producers and Welsh Water over alleged river pollution in the Wye, Lugg and Usk.

Apr 27, 2026

Family Presiding Judge provides list of considerations relevant to applications to deprive young people of liberty in unregulated placements

The Family Presiding Judge for the South Eastern Circuit, Ms Justice Henke, has provided judges with a list of considerations relevant to applications to deprive young people of their liberty in an unregulated placement.

Apr 27, 2026

Five teams in running for Legal Team of the Year at LLG Awards 2026

LLG (Lawyers in Local Government) has announced the shortlists for the LLG Awards 2026, including for the ‘Excellence in Training Award’ and the ‘Rising Star’ award in honour of the late Suki Binjal.

Apr 27, 2026

Councils launch joint legal threat over solar farm NSIP approval

Lincolnshire County Council and North Kesteven District Council are pursuing a joint judicial review over the Government’s decision to approve the UK’s largest solar farm.

Apr 27, 2026

Statements by Essex Police and comments by county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner could be defamatory, High Court rules

Statements made by Essex Police and later comments by the county's Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner said to be about Daily Telegraph journalist Allison Pearson could be defamatory, a High Court judge has ruled.

Apr 27, 2026

National scheme of delegation could see “erosion of local democracy”, LGA warns

The Local Government Association (LGA) has voiced concern that incoming planning reforms could erode local democracy and reduce the system's flexibility.

Apr 24, 2026

Council apologises for “insensitive” use of Millwall FC logo on racism awareness pamphlet

Westminster City Council has apologised to Millwall Football Club after a racism awareness pamphlet for schoolchildren featured a cartoon figure dressed like a Ku Klux Klan (KKK) member wearing the club’s badge.

Apr 24, 2026

Chancellor warns AI use could put legal professional privilege at risk

The Chancellor of the High Court, Sir Colin Birss, has warned that the growing use of artificial intelligence across the legal sector carries a real risk of undermining legal professional privilege (LPP), unless lawyers and organisations take active steps to safeguard confidentiality and maintain…

Apr 24, 2026

Councillor stripped of magistrate role after criticising ULEZ court ruling

A councillor has been removed from his role as a magistrate after publicly criticising the ruling of a judge while referring to his own judicial status.

Apr 23, 2026

High Court blocks garden village development judicial review for second time

Efforts to launch a judicial review challenge against a 1,800-home development have been scuppered for a second time, after the High Court refused permission at a renewal hearing this week.

Apr 23, 2026

Calls for clarity on how best to implement proposed legal ban on smartphones in schools

Headteachers and campaign groups have called for clarity on how best to implement the government's proposed legal ban on smartphones in schools, arguing that even a statutory ban “doesn’t change very much”.

Apr 23, 2026

42BR Barristers to be joined by 4 Brick Court in summer 2026

42 Bedford Row Barristers has today (23 April) announced that family law set 4 Brick Court Chambers will be joining its family group in Summer 2026.

Apr 23, 2026

Thames Water fined for unsafe street works

Thames Water has been fined £10,000 for carrying out unsafe works on a residential street in London, following a successful prosecution from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

Apr 23, 2026

Primary school pupil numbers fallen nationally, creating financial risks for some schools: NAO

Despite falling pupil numbers in primary schools since 2018/19, a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) has warned that government has provided the sector with “limited support” to manage the risks to educational performance and value for money caused by a drop in pupil demand.

Apr 23, 2026